jouska79's manga / #best of genre(9)

If you like Game of Thrones, you'll love this. This has got to be one of the best fantasy romance stories I've read in any medium, and the amazing art makes it even more of a treat to read. I haven't read every fantasy BL webtoon out there, but I'm pretty sure King's Maker would be one of the best of the genre. Art: 11 / 10 (Gorgeous character designs, coloring, attention to details and textures that's just Even the sound effects and use of perspectives are evocative, and helps pull you further into the story) Story: 10 / 10 (this webtoon /will/ keep you at the edge of your seat. Highly binge-reading worthy) World-building: 10 / 10 Side Characters: COMPLETELY LOVABLE, really adds to the story. Also, this story has yet to introduce a single female character that I didn't adore, but special mention goes to Randalph's handsome half-sisters and Dame Gareth, who is a gift to bi(cep)sexual culture.

I didn't expect to love this webtoon so much! Especially in the first few chapters when I thought Nanhee was little more than your typical cutesy shallow shoujo heroine. The more the story progressed though, the more it turned so many toxic romcom tropes (i.e. jealous female friend from male lead's past, potentially overbearing mom-in-law, having disparate interests at first) on their heads and resolved things in the most wholesome ways. I especially loved (a) how neither of the MCs are romanticized over-controlling assholes, (b) how supportive & caring they both were of each other, and (c) how Nanhee's character flourished from being throroughly loved and appreciated for who she already was, no character transformation necessary. If you want a wholesome slice-of-life hetero romcom about two idiots who simp for each other EQUALLY, I don't know how it gets better than this. I want to read more manga about couples who share their dynamic!!

BEST GENDER BENDER / ROLE REVERSAL queer icon

Was pulled in by great art and extremely satisfying revenge porn, stayed for the genre savy and meta on shoujo romances that has me gasping in shock.